I want to write this to publicly acknowledge my savings plan.

In addition to the "Freedom Account" and its sub-accounts which I mentioned in a previous entry, I have a household bill paying account. This is our joint checking account. (I try to keep a savings cushion within the checking account balance after a memorable run--and re-run--of bounced checks due to unexpected expenses.) I also have separate savings accounts for: household repairs, Christmas shopping, Creative Ventures (for writing supplies, community classes and travel), the kid's education account, the kid's 'getting out on his own' acount (the kid's got to go), and an account for my step-grandchildren to hopefully one day help them with college. (They're 9, 4 and 2 right now and I've been saving pennies and nickels. Not adding up very quickly, but it's something.) I have allotments or automatic payroll deposits to most of these accounts. All of these accounts are planned spending accounts...I try to build them up to a certain level in order to spend it.

My parents tell me this is a ridiculous number of savings accounts. My spouse stopped listening after the second account. (I have a list in case anything happens to me.) I don't even bother telling my friends, because no one gets it. Several years ago, I would have thought it was crazy to do this, but it actually works for me. I hear I can do this easily on-line nowadays, but I got the idea a few years ago from How To Get What You Want With The Money You Already Have by Carol Keeffe. It helps me stay organized. I have separate goal amounts in separate accounts that are easy to see and even though they build up VERY slowly, they do build up. It also helps that some monies are only available by driving to the bank and making a withdrawal. This is where I'm constantly "dividing the dime" -- I'm always trying to divvy up money to go to different saving goals EVEN TO THE LAST DIME. (smile)